Toy / training tool for animal containment assembly

ABSTRACT

A toy that can be placed on an animal crate as an on-crate treat delivery system. The toy can encourage low-energy positive reinforcement for animals acclimating to a new crate. The toy can be supported by a mesh network of the crate to provide an off-the-ground design that provides a treat to an animal inside the crate and helps keep an animal bed clean by not encouraging licking or chewing the bed. The toy can also be used facing outward from the crate, utilizing the crate as an elevated post for treat consumption.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility patent applicationSer. No. 17/492,279, filed Oct. 1, 2021, and entitled TOY/TRAINING TOOLFOR ANIMAL CONTAINMENT ASSEMBLY, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2020/061505, filed Nov. 20, 2020,and entitled TOY/TRAINING TOOL FOR ANIMAL CONTAINMENT ASSEMBLY, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/938,597, filedNov. 21, 2019, and entitled TOY FOR ANIMAL CONTAINMENT ASSEMBLY, both ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the pet industry generally and morespecifically to pet crates.

BACKGROUND

Animal enclosures or crates for pets often include a mesh, portals,caging, or other assembly that keeps the animal inside the crate.Occasionally, it is desirable to engage the animal while it is insidethe create, for example, to feed the animal, to play with the animal, orto treat the animal. Thus, it can be desirable to produce a toy for thecrate that is fun for the animal, can provide a treat for the animal,safe for the animal, easy to install and remove, easy to dean,hypoallergenic, and aesthetically pleasing.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “thepresent invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly toall of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below.Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit thesubject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of thepatent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patentare defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is ahigh-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introducessome of the concepts that are further described in the DetailedDescription section below. This summary is not intended to identify keyor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The subject matter should be understood by reference toappropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any orall drawings and each claim.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, disclosedherein is a system for engaging an animal in play for a crate assembly,comprising: an animal engagement portion configured to extend into thecrate assembly from a mesh network suspended by a support frame of thecrate assembly; a mesh network engagement portion configured to allowthe system for engaging an animal in play for a crate assembly to lockinto the mesh network; and a handle portion configured to lock thecrate-mounted animal toy into the mesh network. In some cases, theanimal engagement portion comprises a chew toy. In certain examples, theanimal engagement portion is configured to provide a treat to the animal(e.g., the animal engagement portion comprises at least one indentconfigured to hold the treat).

In some examples, at least the one indent comprises at least one raisedportion, and can comprise a plurality of raised portions disposed in theanimal engagement portion in a pattern. Additionally, at least the oneindent further comprises a plurality of voids traversing the animalengagement portion, and the plurality of voids is disposed in the animalengagement portion in a pattern. Thus, the animal engagement portion isconfigured to make treat retrieval difficult for the animal to provideprolonged engagement with the animal.

In certain aspects, the handle portion and the mesh network engagementportion are further configured to prevent the system for engaging ananimal in play for a crate assembly from falling out of the meshnetwork. In some aspects, the handle portion is further configured toretrieve the system for engaging an animal in play for a crate assemblyfrom the mesh network.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, alsodisclosed herein are methods of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly, comprising: applying a treat to a toy configured to besupported by a mesh network suspended by a support frame of the crateassembly; engaging the toy into the mesh network of the crate assembly;and locking the toy into the mesh network. In some cases, applying thetreat to the toy comprises placing the treat into at least one indentpositioned on the toy. In some examples, inserting the toy into the meshnetwork of the crate assembly comprises passing an animal engagementportion of the toy through the mesh network of the crate assembly untila mesh network engagement portion of the toy is aligned with the meshnetwork. In certain cases, rotating the toy to lock the toy into themesh network comprises rotating the toy from 0° to 179°. Additionally,the methods comprise removing the toy from the mesh network (e.g.,removing the toy from the mesh network comprises rotating the toyopposite to rotating the toy to lock the toy into the mesh network andpulling the toy from the mesh network).

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, alsodisclosed herein is a crate-mounted animal toy, comprising: an animalengagement portion configured to extend into a crate from a mesh networksuspended by a support frame of the crate, wherein the animal engagementportion comprises at least one indent configured to hold a treat; a meshnetwork engagement portion positioned adjacent to the animal engagementportion, wherein the mesh network engagement portion is configured toallow the crate-mounted animal toy to lock into the mesh network; and ahandle portion configured to lock the crate-mounted animal toy into themesh network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, inwhich use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended toillustrate like or analogous components.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an animal toy according to certain aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an animal toy according to certain aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A-3C are a bottom view of a toy according to certain aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 3D-E are views of a mesh network engagement portion according tocertain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an animal toy according to certain aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an animal toy according to certain aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a plurality of views of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a plurality of views of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a plurality of views of an animal toy according to certainaspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to petcontainment and engaging a contained pet in play. The embodiments of thepresent disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive orto limit the disclosure to the precise forms described herein. Rather,the embodiments described herein are chosen so that a person of skill inthe art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices ofthe present disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention”and “the present invention” are intended to refer broadly to all of thesubject matter of this patent application and the claims below.Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit thesubject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of thepatent claims below.

As used herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” or “the” includes singular andplural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass bothendpoints and any and all subranges subsumed therein. For example, astated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and allsubranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and themaximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimumvalue of 1 or more, e.g. 1 to 6.1, and ending with a maximum value of 10or less, e.g., 5.5 to 10.

As used herein, directional and spatial terms such as “horizontal,”“vertical,” “horizontally,” “vertically,” “outward,” and “upward” arenot intended to be binding terms.

As used herein, “toy” may include, but is not limited to, a plaything, atraining tool, a training aid, an instructional tool, a positivereinforcement (e.g., a reward), any suitable animal interaction device,or any combination thereof.

A representative embodiment is presented in FIG. 1 . In someembodiments, a toy 1000 is suitable for use in a collapsible crateassembly according to PCT Publication No. WO 2018/169693 A1, herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. While a toy 1000 designed toaccompany the collapsible crate system described in the WO 2018/169693publication is described throughout the text, the methods and articlesapply to any animal containment system. In some examples, the animalcontainment system is a wire cage, a non-collapsible polymer crate, atravel crate, a decorative crate, a multifunctional crate, or the like.

These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to thegeneral subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit thescope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe variousadditional features and examples with reference to the drawings in whichlike numerals indicate like elements, and directional descriptions areused to describe the illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrativeembodiments, should not be used to limit the present disclosure. Theelements included in the illustrations herein may not be drawn to scale.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the toy 1000described herein is shown in FIGS. 1-3 . In certain examples, the toy1000 includes an animal engagement portion 1010, a handle portion 1020(also referred to herein as a base portion), and a mesh networkengagement portion 1030 (also referred to herein as a support portion).The toy 1000 includes a first end 1021 and a second end 1023 oppositethe first end 1021. The animal engagement portion 1010 can be a chew toyand/or a treat delivery system. In certain aspects, the animalengagement portion 1010 includes at least one indent 1040 comprising arecessed surface 1043 and defining a recessed area 1041. The indent 1040can be used to provide a treat to the animal. For example, a spreadabletreat (e.g., peanut butter) can be applied to the indent 1040. in otherexamples, the indent 1040 can be configured to securely hold a dry treat(e.g., kibble). The indent 1040 can be positioned on a first side of thetoy 1000, or the indent 1040 can be positioned on a first side of thetoy 1000 and a second side of the toy 1000. The indent 1040 can have anysuitable depth such that a treat (e.g., a spreadable treat or a drytreat) can be contained in the indent 1040.

The handle portion 1020 provides a grip that a user can use to handlethe toy 1000 (e.g., to apply the treat, to deploy the toy 1000 into themesh network of a crate, and to lock the toy 1000 into the mesh network,as described in detail below). The handle portion 1020 can include astop 1050 configured to prevent the toy 1000 from completely passingthrough the mesh network of the crate. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3Dand 3E, the stop 1050 includes a stop surface 1051. The mesh networkengagement portion 1030 is configured to enable the user to lock the toy1000 into the mesh network such that the animal can engage the toy 1000and not remove the toy 1000 from the mesh network. FIG. 2 is a side viewof the toy 1000 depicting the animal engagement portion 1010, the handleportion 1020, the mesh network engagement portion 1030, and the stop1050. In certain aspects, the mesh network engagement portion can haveindentations configured to engage cross-members that provide the meshnetwork, as described below. For example, the stop 1050 can haveindentations that align with and engage the mesh network when the toy1000 is in a locked configuration.

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of the 1000 depicting the animal engagementportion 1010 and the stop 1050. FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the toy 1000depicting the toy 1000 inserted into a mesh network 3010. As shown inFIG. 3B, the animal engagement portion 1010 is configured to be insertedinto the mesh network 3010 until the stop 1050 contacts the mesh network3010, prohibiting the toy 1000 from passing completely through the meshnetwork 3010. The toy 1000 can be locked into the mesh network 3010 byrotating the toy 1000 as shown in FIG. 3C. In some cases, the animalengagement portion 1010 and the handle portion 1020 can engage the meshnetwork 3010 about the mesh network engagement portion 1030.Accordingly, the mesh network engagement portion 1030 can be configuredto conform to the mesh network 3010 when the toy 1000 is rotated andlocked into the mesh network 3010. Thus, the animal can engage the toy1000 without removing the toy 1000 from the mesh network 3010, and thetoy 1000 is prevented from falling out of the mesh network 3010. FIG. 3Dis a cross-sectional view of the stop 1050. As shown in FIG. 3D, thestop 1050 can have indentations 3020 on the stop surface 1051 configuredto engage the cross-members of a mesh network 3010. Accordingly, theindentations 3020 can be provided having any suitable configuration suchthat the toy 1000 can be deployed in any animal crate assembly,including animal crate assemblies having vertical cage members,horizontal cage members, a diamond pattern mesh network, a rectangularpattern mesh network, any suitable animal containment members, or anycombination thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3D, theindentations 3020 include first indentations 3020A and secondindentations 3020B where the second indentations 3020B extend at anOblique angle relative to the first indentations 3020A. FIG. 3E is aside view of the toy 1000 showing the stop 1050 and the indentations3020 configured to engage the mesh network 3010 at the mesh networkengagement portion 1030. In some embodiments, and as illustrated inFIGS. 3D and 3E, the stop 1050 may include first ribs 3023 on the stopsurface 1051 adjacent to the indentations 3020 and/or may includespacers 3021 on the stop surface 1051.

In certain embodiments, the toy 1000 can be textured to make retrievalof the treat more difficult for the animal. For example, the indent 1040can include at least one raised portion (e.g., a raised pattern), andoptionally can include a plurality of raised portions, to create anuneven surface that can retain the treat while the animal is trying toretrieve it. The plurality of raised portions can be provided in anysuitable pattern, including a dot pattern, a tread pattern, a wavepattern, a diamond pattern, a network pattern, any suitable pattern, orany combination thereof. For example, FIG. 4 shows the indent 1040having a plurality of raised portions in a wave pattern 4010, FIG. 5shows the indent 1040 having a plurality of raised portions in a treadpattern 5010, FIG. 6 shows the indent 1040 having a plurality of raisedportions in a diamond pattern 6010, FIG. 7 shows the indent 1040 havinga plurality of raised portions in a network pattern (e.g., a pattern inthe example of a neural network, a polymer network, a cellular network,or any suitable network pattern), and FIG. 8 shows the indent 1040having a plurality of raised portions in a dot pattern 8010. Thus, theplurality of raised portions, in any suitable pattern, can provide areaswhere a spreadable treat (e.g., peanut butter) can be difficult for theanimal to retrieve. Accordingly, the animal will continue to try toretrieve the treat and the toy 1000 as described herein can occupy theanimal for a longer period of time when compared to a toy that is devoidof a raised pattern.

In some further embodiments, the toy 1000 can include an indent 1040that includes at least one void traversing the thickness of the toy 1000(i.e., the indent 1040 includes at least one hole configured to containthe treat), and can include a plurality of voids traversing thethickness of the toy 1000 as in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10 . Thevoids in the indent 1040 can be provided in any suitable pattern,including a dot pattern, a tread pattern, a wave pattern, a diamondpattern, a network pattern, or any combination thereof. For example,FIG. 9 shows the indent 1040 having voids in a dot pattern 9010, andFIG. 10 shows the indent 1040 having voids in a network pattern 10010.Thus, the plurality of voids, in any suitable pattern, can provide areaswhere a spreadable treat (e.g., peanut butter) can be difficult for theanimal to retrieve. Accordingly, the animal will continue to try toretrieve the treat and the toy 1000 as described herein can occupy theanimal for a longer period of time when compared to a toy that is devoidof a void.

In other embodiments, the toy 1000 can have any suitable configurationsuch that the toy 1000 can be inserted into the mesh network 3010 of acrate assembly, locked into the mesh network 3010, and provide a treatto an animal. For example, FIG. 11 shows a cross-shaped toy 1100 havingan optional cross-shaped cross-section, as shown in the bottom view1110. The cross-shaped toy 1100 includes the animal engagement portion1010, the handle portion 1020, and the mesh network engagement portion1030. Additionally, the cross-shaped toy 1100 can be locked into themesh network 3010 by inserting the cross-shaped toy 1100 into the meshnetwork 3010 until the mesh network engagement portion 1030 aligns withthe mesh network 3010 and rotating the cross-shaped toy 1100. In somecases, the concave portions 1120 can be used to provide a spreadabletreat (e.g., peanut butter) to the animal.

In some further examples, FIG. 12 shows a toy 1200 having a plurality ofgrooves 1210 such that a spreadable treat can be placed in at least onegroove 1210 in the plurality of grooves 1210, the spreadable treat canbe placed in every groove 1210 in the plurality of grooves 1210, or anynumber in between. Further, FIG. 13 shows a toy 1300 having a pluralityof grooves 1310 provided in a screw pattern 1320. In some otherexamples, FIG. 14 shows a curved toy 1400 having a curved cross-sectionas shown in a bottom view 1410. The curved toy 1400 includes the animalengagement portion 1010, the handle portion 1020, and the mesh networkengagement portion 1030. Additionally, the curved toy 1400 can be lockedinto the mesh network 3010 by inserting the curved toy 1400 until thestop 1050 contacts the mesh network 3010 and rotating the curved toy1400. Thus, any suitable shape can be used to provide the animalengagement portion 1010 of the system for engaging an animal in play fora crate assembly described herein.

In certain examples, the toy 1000 is a polymer, a metal, a composite,wood, a ceramic, rawhide, bone, or any combination thereof. For example,the polymer can be high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP),polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), natural rubber,synthetic rubber, any suitable polymer, or any combination thereof. Incertain cases, the 1000 is a rigid material or a flexible material. Forexample, the toy 1000 can be a rigid material such that an animal canchew on the toy 1000 without damaging the toy 1000. Optionally, the toy1000 can be a flexible material such that the animal can chew on the toy1000, can bat at the toy 1000, and can nuzzle the toy 1000.

Deploying the toy 1000 can include applying a treat to the toy 1000,inserting the toy 1000 into the mesh network 3010 of a crate assembly,and rotating the toy 1000 to lock the toy 1000 into the mesh network3010. In some cases, applying the treat to the toy comprises placing thetreat into the at least one indent 1040. For example, peanut butter canbe spread into the indent 1040. After a treat is applied to the toy1000, the toy 1000 can be inserted into the mesh network 3010 of thecrate assembly. Accordingly, the animal engagement portion 1010 of thetoy 1000 can be inserted into the mesh network 3010 until the meshnetwork engagement portion 1030 of the toy 100 is aligned with the meshnetwork 3010. In some examples, the animal engagement portion 1010 canbe inserted into the mesh network 3010 until the stop 1050 contacts themesh network.

After inserting the toy 1000 into the mesh network 3010, the toy 1000can be rotated to lock the toy 1000 into the mesh network 3010 as in theexample of FIG. 3C. The toy 1000 can be rotated from about 0° to about179° (e.g., from about 1° to about 170°, from about 5° to about 165°,from about 20° to about 160°, from about 30° to about 150°, from about45° to about 135°, from about 60° to about 120°, or about 90°) such thatthe animal engagement portion 1010 and the handle portion 1020 engagethe mesh network 3010 as shown in FIG. 3C. Additionally, the methodscomprise removing the toy 1000 from the mesh network 3010 (e.g.,removing the toy 1000 from the mesh network 3010 comprises rotating thetoy 1000 in a direction opposite to the direction the toy 1000 wasrotated to lock the toy 1000 into the mesh network 3010, or rotating thetoy 1000 to 180° from the insertion configuration to align the toy 1000for removal). After the toy 1000 is aligned for removal, the toy 1000can be removed from the mesh network 3010 by pulling, the handle portion1020.

In certain embodiments, described herein is a crate-mounted animal toyfor engaging an animal (e.g., a pet) in play while the animal is in acrate. The crate-mounted animal toy can be inserted into the meshnetwork of a crate to provide an off-the-ground design that provides atreat to an animal inside the crate and helps keep a bottom of the crateor an animal bed placed in the crate clean by not encouraging the animalto lick or chew the bed. Additionally, the crate-mounted animal toydescribed herein can engage the animal in play outside of the crate, forexample, providing an elevated toy or treat delivery system.

The foregoing description of the embodiments, including illustratedembodiments, has been presented only for the purpose of illustration anddescription and is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to theprecise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and usesthereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Illustration 1 is a system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly, comprising: an animal engagement portion configured to extendinto the crate assembly from a mesh network suspended by a support frameof the crate assembly; a mesh network engagement portion configured toallow the system for engaging an animal in play for a crate assembly tolock into the mesh network; and a handle portion configured to lock thecrate-mounted animal toy into the mesh network.

Illustration 2 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the animalengagement portion comprises a chew toy.

Illustration 3 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration. wherein the animalengagement portion is configured to provide a treat to the animal.

Illustration 4 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the animalengagement portion comprises at least one indent configured to hold thetreat.

Illustration 5 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein at leastthe one indent comprises at least one raised portion.

Illustration 6 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, further comprisinga plurality of raised portions, wherein the plurality of raised portionsis disposed in the animal engagement portion in a pattern.

Illustration 7 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein at leastthe one indent further comprises a plurality of voids traversing theanimal engagement portion.

Illustration 8 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein theplurality of voids is disposed in the animal engagement portion in apattern.

Illustration 9 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the animalengagement portion is configured to make treat retrieval difficult forthe animal to provide prolonged engagement with the animal.

Illustration 10 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the handleportion and the mesh network engagement portion prevent the animal frompulling the system for engaging an animal in play for a crate assemblyinto the crate assembly.

Illustration 11 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the handleportion and the mesh network engagement portion prevent the system forengaging an animal in play for a crate assembly from falling out of themesh network.

Illustration 12 is the system for engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein the handleportion is further configured to retrieve the system for engaging ananimal in play for a crate assembly from the mesh network.

Illustration 13 is a method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly according to any preceding or subsequent illustration,comprising: applying a treat to a toy configured to be supported by amesh network suspended by a support frame of the crate assembly;engaging the toy into the mesh network of the crate assembly; andlocking the toy into the mesh network.

Illustration 14 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein applyingthe treat to the toy comprises placing the treat into at least oneindent positioned on the toy.

Illustration 15 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein engagingthe toy into the mesh network of the crate assembly comprisespositioning an animal engagement portion of the toy in the mesh networkof the crate assembly such that a mesh network engagement portion of thetoy is aligned with the mesh network.

Illustration 16 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein lockingthe toy into the mesh network comprises rotating the toy from 0° to179°.

Illustration 17 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein lockingthe toy into the mesh network comprises attaching a locking portion tothe mesh network engagement portion.

Illustration 18 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, further comprisingremoving the toy from the mesh network.

Illustration 19 is the method of engaging an animal in play for a crateassembly of any preceding or subsequent illustration, wherein removingthe toy from the mesh network comprises rotating the toy opposite torotating the toy to lock the toy into the mesh network and pulling thetoy from the mesh network.

Illustration 20 is a crate-mounted animal toy according to any precedingillustration, comprising: an animal engagement portion configured toextend into a crate from a mesh network suspended by a support frame ofthe crate. wherein the animal engagement portion comprises at least oneindent configured to hold a treat; a mesh network engagement portionpositioned adjacent to the animal engagement portion, wherein the meshnetwork engagement portion is configured to allow the crate-mountedanimal toy to lock into the mesh network; and a handle portionconfigured to lock the crag:-mounted animal toy into the mesh network.

All patents, publications, and abstracts cited above are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Various embodiments of theinvention have been described in fulfillment of the various objectivesof the invention. It should be recognized that these embodiments aremerely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Numerousmodifications and adaptions thereof will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined in the following claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An animal interaction device comprising: a baseportion defining a first end of the animal interaction device andcomprising a first stop surface; an animal engagement portion defining asecond end of the animal interaction device and comprising a second stopsurface; wherein a longitudinal axis of the animal interaction deviceextends from the first end to the second end; and a support portionextending between the base portion and the animal engagement portion;wherein each of the first stop surface and the second stop surface formsa rim extending around a perimeter of a respective end of the supportportion; and wherein at least one of the first stop surface or thesecond stop surface comprises a plurality of indentations extending intothe at least one of the first stop surface or the second stop surfaceand a plurality of protrusions extending from the at least one of thefirst stop surface or the second stop surface.
 22. The animalinteraction device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of indentationscomprises a first indentation extending at least partially along a firstline and a second indentation extending at least partially along asecond line that is parallel to the first line; wherein the secondindentation is arranged on the opposite side of the support portion fromthe first indentation.
 23. The animal interaction device of claim 21,wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises a first protrusionextending at least partially along a first line and a second protrusionextending at least partially along a second line that is parallel to thefirst line; wherein the second protrusion is arranged on the oppositeside of the support portion from the first protrusion.
 24. The animalinteraction device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of indentationsare arranged between the support portion and the plurality ofprotrusions.
 25. The animal interaction device of claim 21, wherein thefirst stop surface faces the second stop surface.
 26. The animalinteraction device of claim 21, wherein a gap is positioned between thefirst stop surface and the second stop surface and is sized to receive across member of a mesh network.
 27. The animal interaction device ofclaim 26, wherein the animal interaction device is rotatable between alocking configuration and an insertion configuration, wherein, in thelocking configuration, the animal interaction device is configured tolock into the mesh network, wherein, in the insertion configuration, theanimal interaction device is removable from the mesh network, andwherein an orientation of the base portion in the locking configurationis different from an orientation of the base portion in the insertionconfiguration.
 28. An animal interaction device comprising: a baseportion defining a first end of the animal interaction device andcomprising a first stop surface; an animal engagement portion defining asecond end of the animal interaction device and comprising a second stopsurface; wherein the animal engagement portion comprises an indent and awall, wherein the indent comprises a recessed surface and defines arecessed area, and wherein the wall extends entirely around the recessedarea; and a support portion extending between the base portion and theanimal engagement portion; wherein at least a portion of each of thefirst stop surface and the second stop surface forms a rim around aperimeter of a respective end of the support portion; and wherein thefirst stop surface comprises a plurality of indentations extending intothe first stop surface.
 29. The animal interaction device of claim 28,wherein the plurality of indentations comprises a first indentationarranged on a first side of the support portion and a second indentationarranged on a second side of the support portion opposite the first sideof the support portion.
 30. The animal interaction device of claim 29,wherein the first indentation extends along the first stop surfaceparallel to the second indentation.
 31. The animal interaction device ofclaim 28, wherein the first stop surface faces the second stop surface.32. The animal interaction device of claim 28, wherein the base portionfurther comprises a plurality of tabs extending from the base portionalong a plane parallel to the first stop surface.
 33. The animalinteraction device of claim 28, wherein the animal interaction device isconfigured to selectively retain at least a portion of a mesh networkbetween the first stop surface and the second stop surface.
 34. Theanimal interaction device of claim 28, wherein the animal interactiondevice is rotatable between a locking configuration and an insertionconfiguration, wherein, in the locking configuration, the animalinteraction device is configured to lock into a mesh network, wherein,in the insertion configuration, the animal interaction device isremovable from the mesh network, and wherein an orientation of the baseportion in the locking configuration is different from an orientation ofthe base portion in the insertion configuration.
 35. An animalinteraction device comprising: a base portion defining a first end ofthe animal interaction device and comprising a first stop surface; ananimal engagement portion defining a second end of the animalinteraction device and comprising a second stop surface; wherein each ofthe first stop surface and the second stop surface extends perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the animal interaction device, wherein thelongitudinal axis extends from the first end to the second end; and asupport portion extending between the first stop surface and the secondstop surface and configured to extend through a mesh network; wherein atleast one of the first stop surface or the second stop surface comprisesa plurality of indentations extending into the at least one of the firststop surface or the second stop surface; wherein each of the first stopsurface and the second stop surface forms a rim extending around aperimeter of a respective end of the support portion; and wherein thefirst stop surface faces the second stop surface.
 36. The animalinteraction device of claim 35, wherein the animal engagement portioncomprises an indent comprising a recessed surface and defining arecessed area, the animal engagement portion further comprising aplurality of raised portions within the recessed area and extending fromthe recessed surface.
 37. The animal interaction device of claim 35,wherein the plurality of indentations comprises a first indentationarranged on a first side of the support portion and a second indentationarranged on a second side of the support portion.
 38. The animalinteraction device of claim 35, wherein the base portion comprises aplurality of tabs extending from the base portion along a plane parallelto the first stop surface.
 39. The animal interaction device of claim38, wherein the plurality of tabs comprises a first tab and a secondtab, the first tab and the second tab being arranged on opposite sidesof the support portion.
 40. The animal interaction device of claim 35,wherein a gap is positioned between the first stop surface and thesecond stop surface and is sized to receive a cross member of the meshnetwork.